Jurassic Park

In the history of entertainment there are phrases that come out of television and film and become a part of every day language (or at least are understood when used in conversation). A classic example of this would be "jumping the shark." The phrase is used when a television show or film goes beyond the bounds of believability and leaves it's audience disconnected and turned off. The phrase refers to the Fonz jumping a shark in a surfing competition on Happy Days and has sense been used in explaining why shows like Heroes can gain tremendous popularity and just as quickly die.
I seriously doubt this term is as widely known or even accurate but there is something I refer to as "The Jurassic Park moment." It's when a film is able to it's amaze it's audience using a perfectly serene setting. No explosions, gun shots, fire, loud noises or obscenity. It is a moment were the director knows exactly what they have done and is confident that the audience will feel an unparalleled level of excitement just by seeing it. There are moments like that in films like Lord of the Rings, Braveheart, King Kong and so on. In Jurassic Park it's when we first see the dinosaurs on the island and we feel the same level of excitement the characters are feeling. As a kid I remember being awestruck seeing this film in theaters and even today it is one of my all time favorite movie moments.
As for the rest of the film, as much as I do love watching dinosaurs eat people I have to admit that there isn't a lot here. The dialogue is often dry and predictable. The acting is spotty at best with Laura Dern providing some cringe worthy moments, Jeff Goldblum occasionally bordering on insufferable and the child actress who played Lex frequently looking unsure of herself and what to say or do. The film is honestly only at it's best when Spielberg is wowing us with his dinosaurs and there are plenty of great dinosaur moments. There are also some good characters mixed in but I truly do not share the same joy for this film years after I first saw it as I do with a film like Jaws. It has provided me with my "Jurassic Park" moment, but watching it again I have to admit that there is little more here than a several great moments.